I'm in Bergen today through Tuesday for a conference. Bergen is beautiful, and makes Oslo look like crap. Oslo wasn't really pretty before, but after seeing this town, I can say that it's downright unattractive. There was some great night scenery as I took a taxi to the hotel, so even though I got in at 11:30pm, I went out and took some pictures for about half an hour, mainly of the bay. And although I brought my computer with me, I didn't bring the little cord that connects it to my camera, so I can't post any of the results right now.
I took the train here, incidentally, because the airport staff are on strike. It's about a 6-7 hour ride, because Norway doesn't have any high-speed trains. I think the London-Paris bullet train covers the same distance in about an hour.
Click here for a google map of the trip between the two cities.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
lillehammer
I went to Lillehammer on Saturday. I didn't care for it. It might've been the holiday on the following Monday, but there was no one around. We went to an open-air museum that showcased replicas of old Norwegian towns, and it was dead. No employees. The replica houses were all locked. The barnyard animals were missing. But, the employees were kind enough to leave the gate open on the odd chance that a passerby might want to go in for a stroll.
The big ski jump might have been interesting to see. It has a ski lift to the top, and inside the tower is a simulator that lets you virtually experience going down the jump. However, it is closed until late May.
The only other thing of interest was the pedestrian shopping strip. That seemed to be where the few city inhabitants were gathered. They all cleared out at about 5.
On another note, I'm hearing the Scandinavian gasping everywhere now (though just from women).
The big ski jump might have been interesting to see. It has a ski lift to the top, and inside the tower is a simulator that lets you virtually experience going down the jump. However, it is closed until late May.
The only other thing of interest was the pedestrian shopping strip. That seemed to be where the few city inhabitants were gathered. They all cleared out at about 5.
On another note, I'm hearing the Scandinavian gasping everywhere now (though just from women).
Monday, May 12, 2008
juice and flowers
I'd been wondering why it has been so hard to find vegetable juice (V8 and such) out here. I finally asked someone why that is, and it appears that Europeans don't drink vegetable juice; those I asked indicated distaste at the idea. Weird. Anyway, feel free to send me some low-sodium V8, if you like, and possibly some of those fruit/veggie mixes.
On a different note, here are some quick pics I took with my cell phone today. I've included black-and-white versions, because I'm becoming more interested in that technique.
On a different note, here are some quick pics I took with my cell phone today. I've included black-and-white versions, because I'm becoming more interested in that technique.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
bizarre
The days are getting really long now, and it's disconcerting. I look out the window and try to judge the time, and I always guess a few hours earlier than it actually is. Right now, for example, it's 10pm, but it's barely dusk outside, similar to a summer evening in the States at around 7-8pm.
Moreover, it doesn't feel like it's 10pm right now. The light tricks mind and body into thinking that it's only early evening, so I'm not as tired as I would normally be at this time of night.
Moreover, it doesn't feel like it's 10pm right now. The light tricks mind and body into thinking that it's only early evening, so I'm not as tired as I would normally be at this time of night.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
beggars
The beggars in Oslo kind of bug me. In San Francisco, there are plenty of homeless, and they're always asking for change in some way or other. They at least make an effort.
Their counterparts in Oslo, though, just sit on the sidewalk and shake a paper cup with some coins in it as you walk by. Alternatively, some leave the cup on the ground in front of them and place a picture of (supposedly) their children beside it. They don't say anything, though, at most just jingling the change in a cup at you, so it doesn't really inspire me to give them anything.
99% of such individuals that I've seen so far appear to be Pakistani or Indian, or somewhere in that general vicinity. That kinds of makes sense, because I believe they're the largest immigrant population and so may experience relative difficulty finding jobs -- particularly because of language issues.
Their counterparts in Oslo, though, just sit on the sidewalk and shake a paper cup with some coins in it as you walk by. Alternatively, some leave the cup on the ground in front of them and place a picture of (supposedly) their children beside it. They don't say anything, though, at most just jingling the change in a cup at you, so it doesn't really inspire me to give them anything.
99% of such individuals that I've seen so far appear to be Pakistani or Indian, or somewhere in that general vicinity. That kinds of makes sense, because I believe they're the largest immigrant population and so may experience relative difficulty finding jobs -- particularly because of language issues.
movies
I went to a movie (Iron Man) today. The Norwegian movie experience is somewhat different than the American one. Generally, tickets are purchased online ahead of time; that's not so unusual. What is different, though, is that seating is assigned. During the online purchase process, the system presents a graphic of the theater showing empty and available seats, not unlike the graphics you see when choosing a seat on a plane. It's kind of nice, and it also lets you judge how crowded the theater might be.
On another note, the movies aren't dubbed, but there were Norwegian subtitles. That can be problematic, though, in scenes that are already subtitled due to foreign dialogue between some characters (e.g., two people speaking in Arabic on screen, with English subtitles for the audience). In that case, the English subtitles are replaced with the same Norwegian subtitles present throughout the movie. So, unless you know Norwegian well, you can miss out on some of the movie conversation.
On another note, the movies aren't dubbed, but there were Norwegian subtitles. That can be problematic, though, in scenes that are already subtitled due to foreign dialogue between some characters (e.g., two people speaking in Arabic on screen, with English subtitles for the audience). In that case, the English subtitles are replaced with the same Norwegian subtitles present throughout the movie. So, unless you know Norwegian well, you can miss out on some of the movie conversation.
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